The treatment goals of atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) start with a proper diagnosis through an in-depth examination from a physician. The exam usually includes questions about your history and often an EKG or ECG. Some patients may need a thorough electrophysiology study.
Prevention and Risk Reduction
Although no one is able to absolutely guarantee that a stroke or a clot can be preventable, there are ways to reduce risks for developing these problems.
After a patient is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the ideal goals may include:
Restoring the heart to a normal rhythm (called rhythm control)
Reducing an overly high heart rate (called rate control)
Preventing blood clots (called prevention of thromboembolism such as stroke)
Avoiding atrial fibrillation and subsequently lowering your stroke risk can be as simple as foregoing your morning cup of coffee. In other words, some AFib cases are only as strong as their underlying cause. If hyperthyroidism is the cause of AFib, treating the thyroid condition may be enough to make AFib go away.
Doctors can use a variety of different medications to help control the heart rate during atrial fibrillation.
"These medications, such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, work on the AV node," says Dr. Andrea Russo of University of Pennsylvania Health System. "They slow the heart rate and may help improve symptoms. However, they do not 'cure' the rhythm abnormality, and patients still require medication to prevent strokes while remaining in atrial fibrillation."
Last Wednesday I woke up and was sitting in bed. I felt my heart beating oddly and after that my chest felt uncomfortable, I told my sister how I was feeling and at that point my heart started beating really fast. I thought I was having a heart attack and was about to die.
Sister took me to the ER where they checked my pulse and put me on an IV I hadn't been told what it was until I was moved to the Hospital, I wasn't allowed to walk and then I was told that I was in AFib.
Later that night a nurse said I "converted" and all was well.
The next day I had a ultrasound on my heart done and etc.
The doctors didn't mention anything bad going on and explained that I had AFib probably because of sleep apnea and being overweight. He told me I should work on losing weight and eating better to fix it.
I'm on Eliquis and Diltiazem, I wasn't told how long but was told I shouldn't run out of Eliquis.
I'm still terrified of havhav that happen again and I have no one else to talk to about this.
After having AFib and converting, and being on this medication. What are the possobiliposs of having to experience that again ? I'm trying to exercise more but I'm scared of something happening again.
I am having a hard time too. I went to bed last Friday, 3/8, and couldn't go to sleep because my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was a drum beating on my mattress. I have never had that happen before. I had had flutters for a couple weeks off & on after my company left, but didn't think about it. This time I couldn't ignore it. My heart was beating so hard I thought it would stop beating altogether just from wearing itself out, so I called the police dept and asked them to call RMSA. They got here within 15 minutes, lights flashing, waking up all the neighbors, hooked me up to their portable EKG, got alarmed and loaded me into the ambulance. I was still in my PJs and robe with slippers. We left in such a hurry that the paramedic couldn't even lock my door right. I went into a WOP mode (whatever that is) on the way to the hospital. I was shaking uncontrollably and shivering like I was in a snowstorm even though the ambulance was warm. So got to the hospital and they gave me baby aspirin and Pepsid, then some other drug, and finally after about two hours my heart went back into rhythm and I could go home. I can't figure out what caused it. I have low blood pressure and am in excellent health, or thought I was. I'm scared, terrified, and the more I read the more scared I get. I read that people with afib have shorter life spans. I'm on Xarelto now, and was told I would probably be on it for life, which means if I'm in an accident I could bleed to death before I could get help. I have no one to talk to. No one in my family has any heart problems even though my dad did. The doc still hasn't scheduled me in. I wish I had a friend to talk to about this. I have no idea now what my future will be like. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Hello! I am new to the cardiac/AFib world. I was recently diagnosed with my heart going in and out of AFib while having long pauses and bradycardia. My cardiologist said he is unable to treat the AFib with medication due to my resting HR normally in the 40’s and sometimes as low as the 30’s. (I do have sporatic dips throughout the day as well) My average awake HR is 60-70, I am scheduled for a sleep study next week to rule out apnea. If the low rate is not due to apnea we will discuss PM/Def. Has anyone corrected their bradycardia with getting apnea treated? Also, what medications have you used for AFib if your HR is on the lower side?
Last Wednesday I woke up and was sitting in bed. I felt my heart beating oddly and after that my chest felt uncomfortable, I told my sister how I was feeling and at that point my heart started beating really fast. I thought I was having a heart attack and was about to die.
Sister took me to the ER where they checked my pulse and put me on an IV I hadn't been told what it was until I was moved to the Hospital, I wasn't allowed to walk and then I was told that I was in AFib.
Later that night a nurse said I "converted" and all was well.
The next day I had a ultrasound on my heart done and etc.
The doctors didn't mention anything bad going on and explained that I had AFib probably because of sleep apnea and being overweight. He told me I should work on losing weight and eating better to fix it.
I'm on Eliquis and Diltiazem, I wasn't told how long but was told I shouldn't run out of Eliquis.
I'm still terrified of havhav that happen again and I have no one else to talk to about this.
After having AFib and converting, and being on this medication. What are the possobiliposs of having to experience that again ? I'm trying to exercise more but I'm scared of something happening again.
I am having a hard time too. I went to bed last Friday, 3/8, and couldn't go to sleep because my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was a drum beating on my mattress. I have never had that happen before. I had had flutters for a couple weeks off & on after my company left, but didn't think about it. This time I couldn't ignore it. My heart was beating so hard I thought it would stop beating altogether just from wearing itself out, so I called the police dept and asked them to call RMSA. They got here within 15 minutes, lights flashing, waking up all the neighbors, hooked me up to their portable EKG, got alarmed and loaded me into the ambulance. I was still in my PJs and robe with slippers. We left in such a hurry that the paramedic couldn't even lock my door right. I went into a WOP mode (whatever that is) on the way to the hospital. I was shaking uncontrollably and shivering like I was in a snowstorm even though the ambulance was warm. So got to the hospital and they gave me baby aspirin and Pepsid, then some other drug, and finally after about two hours my heart went back into rhythm and I could go home. I can't figure out what caused it. I have low blood pressure and am in excellent health, or thought I was. I'm scared, terrified, and the more I read the more scared I get. I read that people with afib have shorter life spans. I'm on Xarelto now, and was told I would probably be on it for life, which means if I'm in an accident I could bleed to death before I could get help. I have no one to talk to. No one in my family has any heart problems even though my dad did. The doc still hasn't scheduled me in. I wish I had a friend to talk to about this. I have no idea now what my future will be like. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Hello! I am new to the cardiac/AFib world. I was recently diagnosed with my heart going in and out of AFib while having long pauses and bradycardia. My cardiologist said he is unable to treat the AFib with medication due to my resting HR normally in the 40’s and sometimes as low as the 30’s. (I do have sporatic dips throughout the day as well) My average awake HR is 60-70, I am scheduled for a sleep study next week to rule out apnea. If the low rate is not due to apnea we will discuss PM/Def. Has anyone corrected their bradycardia with getting apnea treated? Also, what medications have you used for AFib if your HR is on the lower side?